Jairam Ramesh Criticizes Governance Gaps in Renamed ICDS (POSHAN 2.0)
Marking 50 years of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stated that while the scheme has been renamed and subsumed under 'Mission Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0,' its governance has not kept pace. He highlighted recommendations from a Parliamentary Standing Committee, including the need to double the wages of anganwadi workers and helpers. The Congress had suggested hiring additional workers for early childhood care. Ramesh also flagged the failure to revise cost norms for anganwadi services, which was supposed to happen in the 2020-21 financial year.
Key Points
- ICDS is one of the world's largest child welfare programs, now part of Mission Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0.
- Governance issues include stagnant wages for anganwadi workers and outdated cost norms for services.
- The scheme is critical for improving India's human development indicators, particularly child nutrition and health.
- A Parliamentary Standing Committee report flagged several areas for improvement in the scheme's implementation.
Exam Facts
- 50 years of ICDS
- Mission Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0
- Parliamentary Standing Committee report (March 28)
- Financial Year 2020-21 cost norm revision deadline
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